For much of the pandemic, Hong Kong followed mainland China's stringent "zero COVID" strategy, deterring professionals from moving into the international financial hub. Its population decline has been exacerbated by a growing number of young professionals leaving for Britain, the United States and other countries in response to the erosion of Hong Kong’s Western-style civil liberties after a harsh new National Security Law silenced or jailed dissidents.
CHINA SHIFTS COVID ORIGIN BLAME AFTER WHO ABANDONS STUDY INTO VIRUS BEGINNINGS
People wearing face masks walk across a busy street at the Causeway Bay shopping district in Hong Kong, on Feb. 7, 2023. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
Thursday's announcement gave no clue regarding how many people had left for political reasons but said there was a slight rebound in inflows near the end of last year after officials gradually relaxed anti-virus controls.
"We noticed that the population decrease in the second half of 2022 has narrowed when compared to that in the first half, reflecting that movement of the Hong Kong population has begun to resume normal gradually," the statement said.
The government predicted that factors hindering workers from moving to Hong Kong will dissipate after the resumption of restriction-free travel with mainland China and elsewhere.
Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee has rolled out various measures aimed at attracting at least 35,000 professionals each year between 2023 and 2025.